Winter can be dreary. Winter can be drudgery. It’s the time of year when many men turn into bears, wanting to hibernate for months on end, work and commitments aside! Of course, there are those men that welcome and relish winter but even they have to admit it can get miserable at times.

However, if there’s one notable upside to winter is how many choices it offers men regarding what they wear. Layers and luxuriant, warm fabrics are the order of the day. And the three things all of these fabrics must offer are insulation, breathability and durability. One often needs to wear a tie with a winter outfit. What ties to wear with what popular winter fabrics is what this article will explore…

Leading Winter Fabrics

Unsurprisingly, winter fabrics are invariably thicker and heavier than fabrics used in warmer weather. The reason is simple: heaver, thicker fabrics retain heat close to your body and also trap heat between garments and your skin.  Let’s look at some of the leading fabrics used for men’s winter fashion and, importantly, what might be the ties best-suited (if you pardon the pun) to each fabric:

Wool

To call wool a staple winter fabric is an understatement – it is the quintessential winter fabric. There are so many reasons why wool in its many different variations from a host of different animals has been used by humans for thousands of years. Wool is easily spun, it’s immensely versatile, it can be dyed in nearly any colour and, of course, it is very warm.  The history of wool is the very history of humanity.

Like any good winter fabric, wool is a breathable fabric, making it an ideal thermoregulator in cold weather. It’s also extremely durable. Wool is of course not only about jumpers and cardigans, scarves and gloves. It’s also about suits, pants, overcoats and coats made from a variety of different thicknesses and weaves, as well as wool blends. For example, Merino wool is soft and breathable, making it ideal for garments closer to the body, such as sweaters and scarves, whilst alpaca wool is lighter and warmer and thus great for outer garments such as coats. In turn, more flexible wool blends are often used for suits and pants.

Possible Ties to Wear with Wool

The tie you wear with your woollen outfit has a lot to do with the thickness and design of the wool. If you’re wearing lighter wool, such as a business suit in a wool and cotton blend, then opt for a deluxe silk tie. You can choose either a classic, fuller width tie or a contemporary slim-width tie depending on the look you’re aiming for. Heavier woollen garments, such as a double-breasted suit in 100% wool may warrant a corresponding woollen tie, whether with a coarse textured effect or smoother wool with a tartan or paisley pattern.

Cashmere

One of the softest and most beloved of all wool varieties is cashmere, which is derived from the wool of Hircus goats. Like so many wool varieties, the story of cashmere is ancient, with its origins among the goatherds of Central Asia with its weather extremes. Its enduring popularity is testament to just how much fashion designers and men alike love this luxuriant and sophisticated-looking fabric.

Like any good-quality wool, cashmere is renowned for its breathability and, above all else, excellent temperature control. Cashmere never overheats the body and is therefore never cloying to wear, which some heavier and coarser wools can be. The marvel of cashmere is in its construction, being just 15 microns in thickness (by comparison, many wools can be as much as 40 microns in thickness). Furthermore, internal ‘air pockets’ facilitate easy flow of air while retaining heat. Only Merino wool is comparable in that way.

Possible Ties to Wear with Cashmere

You need to remember that cashmere is a luxuriant fabric that almost feels like satin to the touch. As such, a tie with the same look and feel is a good bet. A silk tie may look a little too ‘shiny’ against a cashmere blazer or sweater but a quality cotton tie will offer that all-seductive satiny effect. Cotton ties with tones of beige, mustard or toffee might look especially good with cashmere, whether monocoloured or with bolder patterns such as tartan or florals.

Velvet

Too many men ignore velvet! It’s an ideal fabric for winter because it is both thick and soft, not to mention beautifully warm when matched with thick cottons and lighter wools. Velvet could be considered a woven fabric with a ‘fuzzy’ appearance and texture. That is because of the way it is ‘napped’ or ‘piled’ whereby short fibres are fluffed up for an evenly distributed thread that is smooth. There is an array of different types of velvet, with exotic names such as Ciselé, Devore and Lyons, making it more versatile than many men realize.

Velvet can be made from a variety of different fabrics, including cotton, wool and silk, each with their own unique attributes. In men’s fashion, velvet has typically been used for blazers, whether the velvet was of the crushed or smooth variety. Velvet suits have also become more fashionable in recent years, as they were back in the 1970s, albeit to sometimes quite garish effect! Today’s velvet suits are lighter-looking and often beautifully designed.

Possible Ties to Wear with Velvet

One has to tread a little carefully when choosing a tie to wear with velvet. It’s an eye-catching fabric with a distinct sheen, and therefore you need to decide whether you want a tie that blends in or contrasts with that sheen. A tie in a glossy linen and cotton blend, whether single-toned or patterned, can meld effortlessly with a velvet outfit. For a little contrast, you can try a monochromatic knitted tie with a coarser texture that can juxtapose nicely with the smoothness of velvet.

Gabardine

Gabardine is another quintessential winter fabric that is lightweight and breathes well whilst still retaining heat, making it ideal for colder weather. It’s a lightly twilled fabric that is wonderfully smooth to the touch and compactly structured, making it resistant to wrinkling and hence always able to keep its shape and form. Its durability as a fabric is legendary.

Gabardine can be made from cotton, wool or synthetic blends, such as textured polyester or viscose. It’s typically used for outwear, such as the aforementioned trench coats or anoraks, or more casual wear. Interestingly, gabardine was invented by none other than Thomas Burberry of Burberry’s fame in 1879, becoming iconic as a trench coat worn by soldiers during World War I. Its popularity continues to this day.

Possible Ties to Wear with Gabardine

There is something resolutely classic and even slightly conservative about gabardine, especially as a trench coat. Even the most contemporary trench coats have a retro look about them. As such, a simple tie may be the best option, such as a monochromatic woollen tie. Or you can opt for a lighter-looking cotton version with velvet undertones for those rainy days that are less cold but still wintry.

Few things conjure up feelings of being snug in the depth of winter as much as wool. However, the same can be said of cashmere, velvet and gabardine. In their own unique ways, these are fabrics that allow you to keep warm in winter whilst always comfortable and free to move. Any one of these wonderful fabrics deserves a selection of ties that complements them and that is worthy of your winter wardrobe.